April Recap

Top Five Performances
1. Khatia Buniatishvili- Folly Theater
My review.
2. Matt Otto, Danny Embrey, Sam Copeland and Brian Steever- Black Dolphin
My review.
3. Tatsuya Nakatani & Assif Tsahar- 1900 Building
My review.
4. tenThing- Helzberg Hall
My Instagram footage.
5. Bill MacKay- Mills Record Company
My Instagram footage.


Top Five Albums
1. Anderson Paak- Ventura
My review.
2. Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan- Epistrophy
My review.
3. Caroline Shaw/Attacca Quartet- Orange
Yet another Big Ears Festival encounter.
4. Brooks & Dunn- Reboot
My review.
5. Angelique Kidjo- Celia
Afro-Cuban makeovers.


Top Five Songs
1. Reba McEntire- “Stronger Than the Truth”
The hard stuff.
2. Kevin Abstract- “Big Wheels”
Squeaky.
3. Randy Rogers Band- “Drinking Money”
Gonna spend it all in one place.
4. Lizzo- “Jerome”
I’d hate to be him.
5. Pup- “Scorpion Hill”
Dark thoughts.


I conducted the same exercise in January, February and March.

(Original image of Bill MacKay by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Angelique Kidjo- Remain in Light

The young man next to me refused to stay seated when a band led by David Byrne launched into “Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)” at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday.  (I reviewed the concert for The Kansas City Star.)   My new friend confided that “it’s from my favorite album, I have to dance” as he rose to his feet.  I joined him even though I knew that my display of solidarity would draw the ire of the handful of prim people who refused to stand.  My dance partner had yet to be born when Talking Heads' Remain in Light was recorded, but I bought it as a new release in 1980.  Angelique Kidjo shares our passion for the seminal album.  The Beninese star has remade Remain In Light in her own image.  Her translation of songs including "Born Under Punches" and “Once in a Lifetime” address some of the most crucial issues of 2018.


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I reviewed the Marcus Lewis Big Band at RecordBar for Plastic Sax.

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Eddie Clearwater has died.  The Chief seemed to play in Kansas City nightclubs and at area festivals at least three times a year during the blues boom of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

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Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac has died.

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The problematic Kids See Ghosts is better than Ye and not as good as Daytona. 

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Of Life, Steve Tibbetts’ first album since 2010, is enchanting.  RIYL: Ravi Shankar, dreaming, Terje Rypdal.

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Marcus Miller’s Laid Black is a star-studded party.  The accomplished bassist and producer hosts pals like Trombone Shorty and vocalist Selah Sue on a feel-good project that’s ideally suited for backyard barbecues.  RIYL: Quincy Jones, getting down just for the funk of it, Jonathan Butler.

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Sullivan Fortner is my top pick among the legions of young neo-conservative jazz pianists.  Moments Preserved features Roy Hargrove on a few tracks.  RIYL: Cyrus Chestnut, tradition, Cedar Walton.

(Original image of Kiki Smith sculpture by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Angélique Kidjo- Eve

Two things struck me as I saw Angélique Kidjo perform in the midst of the African music scare of the 1990s- her diminutive size and her obvious pop aspirations.

Kidjo has probably become even smaller in the intervening years, but her new album Eve indicates that her ears continue to grow.  The recording is a purist's nightmare.  Thankfully, I'm no purist.  I take great delight in hearing Kidjo recklessly commingle a multitude of African styles and Western forms.

I wouldn't think twice about featuring many of Eve's tracks on a playlist that also included hits by Rihanna, Imagine Dragons, Kanye West and Aviici.  Kidjo explains her eclectic philosophy in an EPK for the album. 


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The Bahia Orchestra Project's energetic performance Tuesday at Helzberg Hall was thrilling.  Here's my review.

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I reviewed the Pat Metheny Group's Kin at Plastic Sax.

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The third best-selling album at Amazon is by a Missouri-based ensemble.  Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles is punking other musicians from the Show Me State with the success of Lent at Ephesus.

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Strange Music released two videos for Tech N9ne's "Fragile."  Watch here and here.  The label also signed Murs.

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Scruffy & the Janitors made a video for "Shake It Off".

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Matt Prior goes left of the dial.

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Lawrence's Kliph Scurlock is featured in an episode of "What's In My Bag?".

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The Midwest Music Foundation posted a 53-track MidCoast Takeover 2014 compilation at BandCamp.

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Frank Wess' Magic 201 isn't quite as nice as its predecessor.  RIYL: Ben Webster, elegance, Lester Young.

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Ces Cru released a video for "Smoke".

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Young Thug does Danny Brown better than Danny Brown on Black Portland.  RIYL: 2 Chainz, weirdos, Danny Brown.

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The 71-minute 1955 film Rhythm & Blues Review is now available for your viewing pleasure. 

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Kid Rock, Staind, Deftones, Motorhead and Black Stone Cherry are among the acts playing at the 2014 edition of Rocklahoma.

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The trailer for a new round of Camper Van Beethoven reissues made me smile.

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Tavis Smiley's interview with Catherine Russell is fascinating for anyone interested in the veteran jazz vocalist's background.

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Kansas City Click: My official picks are published here.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)